Paul Pierce

“I try to go out there and create my own image, my own style, my own type of game. Right now I can't even think of one guy I've been compared to.” - Paul Pierce

The self-proclaimed “best player in the world,” Paul Pierce lived up to his outrageous hype in 2008 by guiding the Boston Celtics to their 17th championship in franchise history.

MAGNETISM

Paul Pierce has never had a problem scoring. A superstar since his teens and a millionaire since his early 20s, this perennial all-star has been romantically linked to a bevy of beautiful women over the years including hip-hop hottie Inga Newson. These days, Paul Pierce is content to play at home with his fiancée, Julie Landrum, and their baby girl, Prianna, who was born on April 4, 2008.

SUCCESS

Although many pundits have ridiculed Paul Pierce for declaring himself the best basketball player in the world, there’s no denying the fact that the Celtics captain was at the top of his game in 2008 as he helped Boston capture its first NBA championship in 17 years. His Herculean efforts in the playoffs earned him the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award, while also securing him a place in Celtics history along with legendary Hall of Famers Larry Bird, Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. The Truth, as he’s known to his legions of fans, is also a six-time NBA All-Star who has finished in the top 15 in MVP voting four times during his prestigious 10-year career.

Paul Pierce Biography

Paul Pierce was born October 13, 1977, in Oakland, California, but grew up several hundred miles down the coast in Inglewood. It was there, playing in the shadows of the iconic L.A. Forum, that Paul Pierce became a local playground legend, learning the inside-outside moves that would eventually earn him a scholarship to attend the University of Kansas.

paul pierce stars at the university of kansas

Paul Pierce made the most of his time in Lawrence, averaging 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his three seasons at Kansas and earning MVP honors in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in both 1997 and 1998. His NBA-ready body and off-the-charts potential had professional scouts drooling, and he was selected 10th overall by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1998 NBA Draft.

paul pierce and the boston celtics

Paul Pierce proved to be an excellent addition to the storied franchise, and he was selected to the 1998-99 Schick All-Rookie First Team after leading the Celtics in three-pointers made, three-point percentage and steals, and ranking second among all rookies in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Just as importantly, he meshed well both on and off the court with the team’s other young forward, Antoine Walker, giving the Celtics a high-scoring frontcourt that few teams could match.

paul pierce leads the celtics back to the playoffs

Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker truly came into their own during the 2001-2002 season, as they helped the Celtics reach the playoffs for the first time in seven years, advancing all the way to the Eastern Finals before being defeated by the upstart New Jersey Nets.

The season was a true breakthrough for Paul Pierce, who was named to his first of six NBA All-Star teams after becoming the first Celtic in franchise history to finish as the league-leader in total points scored with 2,144. His stellar play also earned him a place on the U.S. national team for the 2002 FIBA World Championship, where he started all nine games and averaged 19.8 points per contest.

paul pierce is an eastern perennial all-star

Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker continued their winning ways over the next three seasons, leading the Celtics into the playoffs each year despite a number of coaching and roster changes. Paul Pierce was especially brilliant during that stretch, ranking in the top five in league scoring each year while becoming a fixture on the Eastern All-Star team.

Unfortunately, the Celtics stumbled badly during the 2005-2006 season as the team shifted its focus to developing a number of promising, but very green, prospects. Paul Pierce was productive as always, averaging a career-high 26.8 points per game, but Boston won only 33 games and finished well in the back of the pack. The following season was hardly any better, as Pierce missed 35 games due to a serious foot injury, and the Celtics finished in the cellar with a dismal 24-58 record.

paul pierce and the big three

Sensing something needed to be done, and done quickly, the Celtics pulled off two spectacular preseason trades for eight-time All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen and 11-time All-Star power forward and former league MVP Kevin Garnett. “The Big Three,” as the trio became known, breezed through the 2007-2008 regular season, winning 66 games and easily earned home court advantage throughout the playoffs where they proceeded to dispatch the Hawks, Cavaliers, Pistons, and Lakers en route to Boston’s first championship in 17 years. Paul Pierce paced the team throughout the post season by averaging 19.7 points per game and provided Boston with one clutch play after another late in key games.

paul pierce says he’s the best basketball player in the world

Paul Pierce caused a minor stir following the playoffs when he told a Spanish newspaper that he felt he was the best baller in the world. "I am a confident player and a lot of people might look at it like ’Oh, another cocky attitude,’ but I don’t look at it that way," he said. "I have an opinion, I have a right to have one and that’s the way I feel. I felt I’ve played against the best over the years and felt right now that I’m the best player in the world." Still just 30 years old, Paul Pierce will have plenty of opportunities to back up his claim in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, in August 2008, Paul Pierce was nominated for AM's Top 49 Men of 2008, and you can vote for him by clicking here.